Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents are investigating two separate boating crash incidents that took place on July 24 in Cameron and Calcasieu parishes.

Agents are investigating a collision between two personal watercrafts (PWC) in the Hebert Landing area of Calcasieu Lake in Cameron Parish on Sunday, July 24. The PWCs were operated by a male and a female both 14 years old.

One of the operator’s parents was returning from a fishing trip and spotted the two PWCs drifting near the landing. The parents retrieved the two juveniles from the water and transported them to a Lake Charles area hospital. One of the subjects was treated for soft tissue injuries to the left knee and ankle. The other was being scheduled for oral surgery as a result of the collision.

Both juvenile operators were wearing their personal flotation device and kill switches were used to shut off the PWCs. State boating regulations state that operators of PWCs must be at least 16 years of age.

The second boating crash incident involved a vessel on the West Fork of the Calcasieu River in Calcasieu Parish. Duston Istre, 26, of Sulphur, was operating the vessel at a high rate of speed before losing control and striking a tree.

Istre and his passenger, Michael Fontenot, 18, also of Sulphur, were transported by ambulance to West Cal-Cam Hospital in Sulphur. Istre suffered severe blunt force trauma to his torso and lower extremities. Fontenot suffered a severe laceration to his temporal region as well as various other abrasions.

LDWF agents have charges pending against Istre for reckless operation of a watercraft, operating a watercraft under the influence and vehicular negligent injuring.